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8.1 How strong are the selfish needs for the money, time and energy that are being used up by elderly or handicapped people:
8.2 How strong and durable are the self-controls against selfish actions coming from these needs – controls such as: empathy, The Golden Rule, the Ten Commandments (“You shall not kill”, “You shall not covet thy neighbor’s goods...” “Honor thy father and thy mother...”):
8.3 How strong are the social and legal proscriptions against forcing, tricking, or pressuring a person to leave life:
The preceding are questions for those who make the law or who make policy for doctors, nurses, social workers and others who might be involved in the process of leaving.
The same kinds of questions can be posed at the personal level:
8.4 Imagine that your bed-ridden, Very Old parent has a couple of million dollars. You will inherit this money if it isn’t used up by his very expensive nursing care. You are drained by the problems of dealing with him and his caregivers. So far as you can tell, he is getting nothing out of life. You feel helpless, saddened and frustrated. Other aspects of your life are suffering from neglect. The law allows people in his position access to a painless exit. He depends on you to help him to make decisions. How do you think you would feel and act:
I would have no trouble considering his needs first and doing everything I could to make him comfortable and to extend his life until he said that he wanted to leave.
I would be aware of my wish to be free of the burden of caring for him and to have some money left for me, but my values (doing the right thing, being kind to others, never taking a life) would win out.
As time would pass, and the money is depleted, greed and selfishness might lead to some subtle attempts to influence him to leave life.
I would not trust myself to put the needs of my parent first, or to treat him the way I would like to be treated. The temptations of the money and freedom from inconvenience of caring for him would be too great and it would be easy to rationalize influencing or pressuring him to leave.
8.5 Now imagine that the bed-ridden, Very Old person is you. Could you trust your beneficiaries or care-givers not to pressure you to leave:
8.6 Let’s say that your bedridden, Very Old, terminally ill parent asks for your help in leaving life. What would you say or do:
I’d let my parent know that this is out of the question or that this is something I will not talk about. I would do this by changing the subject or by reminding him how his leaving voluntarily would upset or shame the family.
I’d say that I’d like to help but it’s against the law and I am afraid of being arrested, tried and possibly convicted of murder or manslaughter and having my life ruined or going to prison.
I’d say that I’d like to help but it’s against my religious beliefs. I’d tell him I cannot bend a belief even if I want to because then the rest of my belief system would be weakened.
I’d assure him that I’ll talk to the doctor and find out what he might be willing to do. I’ll see if he will increase his medication, even if it means hastening his exit.
I’d admit that I’m not sure what to do, so I’ll get advice from organizations or professionals who believe that people ought to be able to choose when and how they leave.
8.7 Do you believe that leaving life voluntarily yourself or helping others to do so might encourage others to act who might not be as enlightened, principled or responsible as you are? Would this belief help keep you from carrying out an action which you have decided is a good one for you or for someone you care about? Would you try to keep it a secret:
8.8 What do you think are the dangers of making easier access to leaving life public policy instead of leaving it outside the law, with prosecution of physicians and others who help someone to leave at the discretion of the local police and prosecuting attorney:
8.9 Imagine that you are with a group of people on a desert island. There is not enough food and water to last the group for more than a few days, but there is a sustainable supply for two people. There is no possibility of rescue anytime soon. Everyone agrees with the principle that the group should be whittled down. What do you do:
8.10 Now assume that the desert island is a world that is becoming overcrowded. What should we do? What will we do: